Closing machine



Feb. 13, 1923. Lamm.'

K. KIEFER. l

CLOSING MACHINE.

FILED FEB. 20'. 1919.

ous heights.

Patente Feb. 13, 1923./

TAS'

.ein para .j 7 La naar.. KIEFER, or CINCINNATI, omo. i

CLOSING CHINE. v

Application alea February 2o, 1919.v serial No.. 278,286.

y ication.

My invention relates to apparatus for closing containers, and its object is to rapidly and effectively close successive ones of relatively large numbers of containers, and more especially to attain these results with containers in which the closures are forced into the openings in the containers and held therein by friction; the particular example herein being such a machine for applying in this way the closures of what are com-- monly known as friction-top cans.

A further object is to permit of ready adjustment of the machine to operate inthe manner just stated upon containers of vari- A further object is to combine with the closin4 operation a conveying operation where the containers may be conveniently receive into and delivered from the closing apparatusp In the drawingi Fig. 1i` is a side elevation of a closing machine embodying my invention;

F ig. 2 .is a partial vertical cross-section on a plane corresponding tothe line 2-2 of Fig. 1, enlarged;

Fig. B-is a partial plan View of the machine; and

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of part of the conveyor chain.

As here shown, the conveyor part of the machine comprises the supporting means therefor. This conveying part of the inachine is made up of two parallel rails 1 formed of angle-bars with upright elements 2 and oppositely outwardly extending elements 3 at the bottoms of the elements 2. To these bottom elements 3 near opposite ends of the rails are fixed the legs 4 and 5, which suitably support the machine on the floor or ground, and preferably have rollers 6 permitting the machine to be moved about readily. In the upper part of the legs 4, a sprocket-wheel is journaled hor1zon. tally, and in the upper part of the legs 5 a similar wheel 8 is similarly journaled. Throughthe medium of suitable reducing mechanism 9, amotor 10 drives the sprocket- 'when' the chain 11 wheel 8; this motor 10 preferably beingy mounted some distance above lthe rails 1.

The conveyor chain 11' is made up of'a plurality of 'links 12, each comprising forward separated lugs 13 (Figs. 2 and 4), a backwardly extending knuckle 14, and laterall 'extending' at webs 15. The lugs 13 and nuckle 14 extend down from the lower surfaces ofthe webs 15, while the knuckle 14 of the link extends back past the rear edges of the webs 15.` This chain 'is' put together by bringing the knuckle 14 of each link between the lugs 13 of the succeeding link and passin a pin 1-.6 through the lugs and knuckle. lille parts are so proportioned that when these links are thus assembled, the' webs 15 lie very close together with their upper surfaces substantially even. The knuckles 14 are recessed to receive the teeth of the sprocket-wheels 7 and 8, and y is mountedl on the sprocket-wheels, as shown in Fi 1, the adjoining parts of each two adjacent links' pass between the teeth of the sprocketwheels. Such la chain is obtainable on the market; and is shown and specificallyfdescribed herein because it is ver suitable for use in the present invention. t will be understood, however, that chains of other specific constructions may be used.

On the inside of each rail 2 are fastened smaller angle-bars or slide-rails 17 by means of bolts 18; the horizontal elements of these bars'17 projecting inwardly at the, respective sides and being spaced down slightly 4from the upper edges of the rails 2. The

links of the chain 11 have the lower surfaces of4 theirl webs 15 bearing 4on these horizontal parts of the slide rails 17 with their. laterally outwardedges comin close to the rails 2 near the upper edges t ereof. Preferably, the upper surfaces of the links of the chain 11 lie slightly below these upper edges of the rails 2; so that these rails 2 act as lateral guides for objects placed on the chain as it travels along between said rails 2'. ylt will be seen that with this arrangement so far as described and the motor 10 or other suitable motive apparatus driving the wheel 8 over toward the adjacent end of the machine, the upper stretch of the chain is drawn constantly toward and down over this wheel 8 and travels to the other wheel 7 in a preferably rather slack lower stretch along under the rails 2, as shown such as the 'containers A placed on the chain near the wheel 7 will be carried along toward the wheel 8. This part of the machine is therefore in itself a conveyor. It

is described inA detail on account of the novel combination therewith of the means especiiilly directed to suitably closing thelcontainers A as they are thus carried along by the conveyor.

This closing means comprises the relatively rather large wheel 18 having a preferably fiat rim 19, and having fixed in its hub the spindle 2() (Fig. 2) which projects out at both sides and has ball-bearings 21 in upright bearing bars 22. These parts are so proportioned that these bea-ring bars 22l may extend up parallel to each other close to the respective outer edges of the horizontal base parts 3 of the rails 2. A base or yoke-piece 23 is bolted to the lower surfaces of the bottoms 3 of the rails 2 and rojects out at opposite sides thereof where it has bolted to it the upright guides 24 which have suitable guideways on their inner sides receiving the bearing-bars 22 snugly; these bars 22 being held in the guideways of the guides 24 by cover plates 25 and 26 at the bottoms and tops, respectively, of the guides 24. The base-plate 23 has the recesses 27 in its outer edges through which the bearing bars 22 project below it, where the lower end parts of these bearing bars are bolted to opposite ends of a yoke 28. This yoke 28 has a hub 29 at its middle which is internally threaded, and a.screw 3() passes up through the hub 29 and has a reduced neck 31 bearing in a central opening in the base-plate 23; a still further reduced and threaded part of this screw 30 projecting up past the top of the base-plate between the rails 2, and having a washer 32 and nuts 33 thereon. Thus, the screw 30 is prevented from moving up and down; and when it is turned by means of the handvvheel 34 fixed on its lower end part, it moves the yoke 28 up or down, as the case may be, and with this yoke moves the bearing-bars 22 and the wheel 18 up or down relatively' to the chain 11. A lock-nut 35 is screwed on the screw 30, preferably below the hub 29 where it is readily accessible;

land this nut is screwed up against the hub 29 when the wheel 18 has been adjusted to the desired height. Thus, the entire mechanism is clamped in its adjusted position; and the adjustment being along a line within the lateral-limits of the closure and wheel cont-act, lateral angular displacement of the, wheel from the container top is avoided.

The approximate construction of the containers A is shown clearly in the sectional view in Fig. 2; it being sufficient to state that such a container generally has an upper opening with a downwardly turned annular flange inside the container, and an upwardly ,ece

cupped lid or cover a is formed to fitvery tightly all around in this down-turned flange. However, there is a variety of such containers; and it will be understood that the machine is suitable for closing any of these containers or any other kind of container in which the closure is forced thereinto or thereonto. The chief requisite for a container to be operated upon most vadvantageously by this machine is that the container should not be much higher than it is wide, so that it is not readily overturned.

Thus, it will be understood, flrom the mode of operation in which the chain 11 carries the containers successively under the wheel 18, these containers previously having had their caps, covers, lids or other closures placed loosely therein or thereon, with the wheel 18 adjusted to the proper height above the chain, this cap, cover, lid or other closure Vis pressed tightly down; as., for instance, in Fig. 2 .where the lid-is being 'pressed down in the can top. seen that as the container"approaches vertical coincidence with the wheel center, the tendency is somewhat to tilt the container backwards. Hence the desirability that the container should be of the stable form just mentioned. This proportion of the container, however, is a varying consideration, and the use of the machine is not essentially confined to containers of any. certain proportions.'

The chain of the character described, supported on the slide-rails 17 or equivalent means', affords an especially firm support for the containers while passing through the closing mea-ns; and although the closing means is readily adjustable to containers of a wide range of heights, the construction and arrangemenaf parts is such that the bearings of the wheel 18 are very rigidly supported and the machine is effective, for work upon relatively large closures and to place these closures in the containers very tightly. At the same time, the machine is very simple and of relatively light construction so that it is readily moved about and does not require the attention of very skilled operators to adjust it and to place it in working order.

It' will be While certain constructional details are for 'closure thereof, bearing means positively supporting said wheel on a substantially horizontal axis, and a single means for positively adjusting said ,bearing means and wheel up or down relatively to said means that carries the containers.

2. ln a closing machine to force closures into position on containers, in combination with a wheel, and carrying means Ato carry the containers successively under said wheel for closure thereof, bearing means positively supporting said wheel on a substantially.

horizontal axis, and a single means below said carrying means for positively adjusting said hearing means and wheel up or down relatively to said means` that carries the containers.

3. ln a closing machine, in combination with a wheel. and means to carry containers successively under said wheel for closure thereof, rails flanking said means that carries the containers and supporting said means, a base-plate lixed to the bottoms of said rails thereacross and projecting laterally outwardly from the respective rails, upright guides fixed to said base-plate where it projects out past the respective rails, bearing bars slidably mounted upright in said guides` bearings in the upper parts of said bearing bars, said wheel being journaled in said bearings, said bearing bars projecting below said base-plate, a yoke fixed to the lower parts of said bearing bars therebe tween and having a middle upright threaded aperture` a screw threaded upthroughsaid aperture and j ournaled in the middle of said base-plate, means preventing up-and-down movement of said screw in said base-plate, and means for turning said screw whereby said wheel is adjusted up or down relatively to said means that carries the containers.

4. In a closing machine to force closures into position on containers, the combination of elongated conveying means conveying continuously in substantially rectilinear direction, and comprising a. chain made up of links each having substantially flat wings and downwardly projected means articulating the successive links together, and sprocket-wheels for driving and guiding said chain` substantially rectilinear and parallel guiding and supporting means at respective sides of said chain in its upper stretch between said wheels, said fiat wings of said chain resting on said supporting means, with their iiat upper surfaces substantially in a single plane to receive and lirmly support containers placed thereon at random, and a wheel journaled above said upper stretch of said chain on an axis substantially at right angles to thedirection of travel of said chain, and positively held to prevent its movement bodily away from said conveying means` whereby the containers are carried by said conveying means under said wheel for closure as aforesaid by the positive pressure of said wheel.

5. In a closing machine to force closures into position on containers, the combination of elongated conveying means conveying continuously in substantially rectilinear direction, and, comprising a chain made up of links each having substantially fiat wlngs and downwardly projected means articulating the successive linksl' together, and sprocket-wheels for driving and guiding said chain, substantially rectilinear and parallel guiding and supporting means at respective sides of said chain in its upper stretch between said wheels, said flat Wings of said chain resting'on said supporting means, with their flat upper surfaces sub@ stantially in a single plane to receive and firmly support containers placed thereon at random, a wheel above said chain, bearing means for said wheel at opposite sides thereof in which said wheel is journaled on an axis substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of said chain, upright guides in which said bearing means, respectively, are mounted to slide up and down at opposite sides of the supporting and bearing means for the chain` said guides being fixed to said supporting and bearing means, and means for adjusting these bearing means up and down in these guides and positively holding said wheel to prevent its movement bodily away from said conveying means, whereby the containers are carried by said conveying means under said wheel for closure as aforesaid by the positive pressure of said wheel.

6. In a closing machine to force closures into position on containers, the combination of elongated conveying means conveying continuously in substantially rectilinear direction, and comprising a chain made up of links each having substantially flat wings and downwardly projected means articulating the successive links together, and sprocket-wheels for driving and guiding said chain, substantially rectilinear and parallel guiding and supporting means at respective sides of said chain in its upper stretch between said wheels, said flat wings of said chain resting on said supporting means, with their flat upper surfaces substantially in a single plane to receive and firmly support containers placed thereon at random. a wheel above said chain. bearing means for said wheel at opposite sides thereof in which said wheel is journaled on an axis substantially at right angles to the direction of travel of said chain, upright guides in which said bearing means, respectively. are mounted to slide up and down at opposite sides of the supporting and bearing means for the chain, said guides being fixed to said supporting and bearing means, a screw journaled upright in said supporting and bearing means below said chain, and means positively connected to said bearin and threaded on said screw, whereb said bearings and said wheel are positive y adj usted up and down by turnlng said sc rew.

7. In a closing machine, the comblnation of elongated conveying means conveying. continuously in substantiallyl rectilinear direction, and comprising a chain made up of links each having substantially flat wings and downwardly projected means articulating the successive links, together, and sprocket-wheels for driving and guidlng saidchain, substantially rectilinear and parallel guiding and supporting means' at respective sides of said chain in itsupper stretch between said wheels, said flat wings of said chain. resting onv said supporting means, and said chain hanging slacklin its lower stretch between said sprocket-wheels, a wheel over the upper stretch of said chain,

bearing means for saidwheel supported for up and down adjustment on the supporting and bearing means of said upper stretch of said chain, and adjusting means for adjusting said bearing means-and said wheel up and down relatively to said upper stretch o said chain, said adjusting means being under said upper stretch of said chain and over said slack lower stretch.

8. ln a closingl machine, the combination of relatively long substantially parallel bars, legs fixed to said bars near. opposite ends thereof` a conveyor chain having its upper stretch between said bars and supported and guided thereby, means supported on said legs for supporting and driving said chain, the lower stretch of said chain running slack below said lower stretch and said bars, a wheel above said upper stretch, bearing means for said wheel in which said wheel is supported onvan axis substantially at right angles to the longitudinal extent of said chain, means fixed to the under side of said bars and extending up at opposite sides thereof and supporting and guiding said bearing means for up and down adjustment, and-means engaging this Supporting and guiding means and with said bearing means below said bars and upper stretch of chain new and above said lower stretch of chain for adjusting said bearing means and wheel up and down relatively to said upper stretch of chain, for the purposes set forth.

9. In a closing machine, in combination with a wheel andmeans to carry containers under said wheel for closure of the containers, bearingmeans supporting said Wheel on a substantially horizontal axis for contact of the wheel periphery with the carried containers, and means having adjusting operative connectionwith said bearing means substantially within the' lateral limits of said contact, to vary the distance between the wheel periphery and the means that carries the containers with a minimum lateral angular displacement of the contacting wheel and container surfaces.

v10. In a closing machine, in combination with a wheel and means to carry containers to said wheel for closure of the containers,

bearing means vpositively supporting said Wheel on a substantially horizontal axis for contact of the wheel periphery with the carried containers, and means having positively adjusting operative connection with said bearing means substantially with-in the lateral limits of said contact, to vary the distance between the wheel periphery and the.

means that carries the containers with minimum lateral angular displacement of the contactingy wheel and container surfaces rela-- tively to each other.

11. In a closing machine to vforce closures into position on containers, in combination with a wheel, and carrying means to carry containers to. the `wheel periphery for rotation of said wheel with its periphery in closure-forming contact with closures on the containers, a screw with its axis substantially perpendicular to and within the lateral limits of said contact, positively holding said wheel and said carrying means at various distances apart for the rotary contact of said wheel with the closures of containers of various dimensions.

.KARL KIEFER.

`Witnesses:

M. A. HARRINGTON, E. E. FiNoH. 

